Lesotho military disarms police

Maseru - Lesotho defense forces say that one soldier and four police were injured in an exchange of gunfire when military forces disarmed two police stations in the country.

Defense forces spokesman Ntlele Ntoi told The Associated Press that after disarming police at the two stations, the military returned to their barracks.

Ntoi denied reports of any attempt at a coup.

He said the military acted after gathering intelligence that the police were going to arm factions in a demonstration planned for Monday by one of the coalition parties, the Lesotho Congress for Democracy. He said the military disarmed police to avoid bloodshed.

Lesotho is a mountainous kingdom surrounded by South Africa and has seen unrest since gaining independence from Britain in 1966.